Adjustable cleat attachment for shoes



March 10, 1959 c. w. AlTKEN ADJUSTABLE CLEAT ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES FiledAug. 23, 1957 INVENTOR.

ATTOIZMEYS United States Patent 2,876,563 ADJUSTABLE CLEAT ATTACHMENTFOR SHOES (Iharles W. Aitken, Greenwood, S. C. Application August 23,1957, Serial No. 679,986 4 Claims. (Cl. 367.7)

The invention relates to wearing apparel, and more specifically, theinvention pertains to an attachment for shoes. 1

One of the primary objects ,of this invention is to provide a cleatattachment for conventional street shoes to provide the advantagesnormally obtained by use of golfing shoes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleat attachment of thetype generally referred to above which does not require alteration ofthe users street shoes nor will the attachment damage the same whenattached thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable cleatattachment of the type referred to supra, which may be readily attachedto or removed from the sole of the conventional street shoe, it beingunderstood that the shoe includes at least an outsolefl It is a stillfurther object of this invention to provide an adjustable cleatattachment for conventional street shoes, the cleat attachment beingadapted for application to the soles of shoes which may vary in theirrespective longitudinal and lateral dimensions.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of a cleat attachment for conventional street shoes, theattachment being non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensiveto manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects andadvantages of the instant invention willbecome more evident from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the under side of the cleat attachmentconstructed in accordance with this invention, the attachment beingillustrated as secured to the sole of a conventional street shoe;

Figure 2 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken substantially uponthe vertical plane of line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; this view illustrating the cleat attachment in an invertedposition with respect to the illustration of the attachment shown inFigure l; and

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cleat attachment, perse.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeraldesignates, in general, a cleat attachment for conventional street shoesconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.As illustrates in the figures, the cleat attachment 10 is seen tocomprise an elongated substantially rectangular first plate member 12formed of a metal or of any other suitable substantially rigid material,the plate member 12 terminating at its other end in a flange 14 whichprojects laterally therefrom at substantially right angles with respectthereto. The flange 14 is integrally formed with one end of a flange 16reverted over the plate mem- 0 her 12 and disposed in vertically spacedand substantially parallel relation with respect thereto. A screw Qotherends of the plate28a're vertically offset with reice 18 has one ofits ends rigidly secured to the plate member 12 adjacent the other endthereof and projects laterally therefrom at substantially right angleswith respect thereto in the direction opposite to the direction of theprojection of the flange 4. v

A second elongated substantially rectangular plate member 20 formed ofmetal or of any other suitable substantially rigid material terminatesat one of its ends in a flange 22 which projects laterally. therefrom atsubstantially right angles relative thereto. The flange 22 is integrallyformed with one end of a flange 24 reverted over the platemember 20 invertically spaced and substantially parallel relation with respectthereto. The other end of the plate member 20 is provided with alongitudinally extending elongatedsubstantially rectangular slot 26extending transversely therethrough.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a third elongated substantially rectangularplate member formed of metal or of any other suitable substantiallyrigid material. The plate member 28 terminating at one of its ends in aflange- 30 which projects laterally therefrom at substantially rightangles relative thereto. The flange 30 is integrally formed with one endof a flange 32 reverted over the plate member 28 in vertically spacedand substantially parallel relation relative thereto. I

The other end of the plate member 28 is provided with a longitudinallyextending elongated substantially rectangular slot 34 extendingtransversely therethrough. As is seen in thedrawingathe aforementionedone and spect' to each other and are substantially parallel. The

one and other ends of the plate member 28 are intescrew 18 to hold thecleats in loose association. Sub-' grally connected by abridge element36 angularly inclined with respect thereto.

Reference numeral 38 indicates, in general, one of the cleat elements,per se. Each of -the cleats 38 are identically constructed and each isseen to comprise a substantially circular disc or main body portion 40having a plurality of integrally formed, radially spaced, substantiallytriangular teeth 42 positioned at the circumferential marginal edgethereof, the teeth 42 projecting laterally from the disc 40 in the samedirection and at substantially right angles with respect thereto.

A cleat 38 has the disc portion 40 thereof fixedly secured, as bywelding 44, to each of the plate members 12 and 20, respectively,intermediate their respective opposed ends with the teeth thereofprojecting laterally therefrom in a direction opposed to the directionof the projecting flanges 14 and 22, respectively. 1

A pair of similar cleats 38'are connected to the aforementioned one endof the third plate 28 in longitudinally spaced relation with the teeththereof projecting laterally away therefrom in a direction opposite tothe direction of the projecting flange 30.

Reference numeral 46 designates'a second type of cleat. As is seen inthe figures, the cleat 46 includes a disc portion 48 having a centrallylocated internally threaded opening 50 extending transverselytherethrough and a plurality of integrally formed, radially spaced,substantially triangular teeth 52 projecting laterally from the disc 48at the circumferential marginal edge thereof.

To utilize this attachment, the several plates 12, 20 and 28 are firstloosely connected together by extending the screw 18 through the slots26 and 34 in the order named, with the flanges 14, 22 and 30 extendingin the same direction. Thereafter, the cleat 46 is threaded on thesequently, the user engages theflange 14 of the plate 12 against oneside of an outsole 54 of a shoe 56 having a last 58 with the flange 16hooking 'over the upper marginal edge of the outsole 54.

The flange 22is-now"engagcd "against the opposite side of the outsole 54with the flange 24 also hooked over the upper marginal edge of theoutsole 54.

Thereaften the flange 30 of the plate 28 is engaged in the forward endof the outsole 54 with the flange 32 hooking over the upper marginaledge thereof.

With the plates 12, 20 and 28 positioned in the manner described, thecleat 46 is now tightened against the above-mentioned other end of theplate'28 to releasably secure the plates in their respective assembledpositions.

To remove the attachment from the outsole 54 it is only necessary toloosen the cleat 46 so that the flanges 14, 22 and 30 may be moved awayfrom adjacent portions of the side and end of the outsole 54 until theflanges 16, 24 and 32 become disengaged from the upper marginal edgesthereof.

It will be recognized by those skilled inthis art that the plates 20 and22 are pivotally mounted on the pin 18 whereby the same may be turnedtowards and away from the plate 28. At thessame time,'the plates .12 and20 may be moved toward and away from each other at any desired anglewith respect to-each other, and the adjacent ends thereof may be movedtoward or away from the opposed ends of the plate 28.

'It will be understood that while .a number of sequential steps forconnecting the attachment 10 to a shoe 56 have beeniset forth indetailabove, the order recited is not controlling and may be varied atthe will of the user without departing from the spirit and. scope ofthis invention. Further, while reference has been made above for theprovision of an attachment to street shoes for use in playing golf, itis self-evident that the attachment finds other utility whenever theuser must cross slippery terrain such as, for example, snow andice-filled streets.

In setting forth this invention, reference has been made to theapplication of the attachment 10 to the outsole of a shoe. This term hasbeen employed to distinguish away from such articles of clothing of themoccasin type, sneakers, etc., which are not normally provided with asole having a marginal edge separated from the shoe last. As employedherein, the term sole comprehends any construction which may include aninsole, slipsole, or outsole, or any combination thereof.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail, it is to be understood that the same is ottered merely by way ofexample and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a cleat attachment for a shoehaving an outsole, said cleat attachment being adapted for extensionacross the under side of said outsole, said cleat attachment including aplurality of elongated rectangular plate members, each of said platemembers terminating at one of their respective ends in a flangeprojecting laterally therefrom and in the same direction and at rightangles with respect thereto, the outer ends of each of said flangesbeing reverted over its associated plate in spaced, parallel relationrelative thereto, one of said platemembers having a pin projectinglaterally from a side thereof in a direction opposite to the directionof its said associated flange, said pin being disposed adjacent theother end of said one plate member, a pair of said plate members eachhaving their respective other ends overlapped and having an elongatedsubstantially rectangular slot formed therein, said pin extendingthrough said slots whereby said plate members may be pivotally andslidably adjusted relative to each other to selected adjusted positions,means mounted on said. pin and engaging one plate of said pair ofslotted plate members to releasably secure said plate members.- in saidadjusted positions, cleat means for each of said platemembers, and saidone plate of said pair having "abridge portion adjacent its said slottedend whereby the major portion of said one :3 plate of said pair maybesuperimposed against said underside of said outsole.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a cleat attachment for a shoehaving an outsole, said cleat attachment being adapted for extensionacross the under side of said outsole, said cleat attachment including aplurality of elongated rectangular plate members, each of said platemembers terminating at one of their respective ends in a flangeprojecting laterally therefrom and in the same direction at right angleswith respect thereto, the outer ends of each of said flanges beingreverted over its associated plate in spaced and parallel relationrelative thereto, one of said plate members having a pin projectinglaterally from a side thereof and in a direction opposed to thedirection of its associated flange, said pin being disposed adjacent theother end of said plate member, a pair of said plate members each havingtheir respective other ends overlapped and having an elongatedrectangular slot formed therein and extending transversely therethrough,said pin extending through said slots whereby said plate members may bepivotally and slidably adjusted relative to each other to selectedadjusted positions, means mounted on said pin and engaging one plate ofsaid pair of slotted plate members to releasably secure said platemembers in their said adjusted positions, and cleat means for each ofsaid plate members, each of said cleats comprising a plurality ofradially spaced triangular teeth projecting laterally from said platemembers in the same direction as said pin, said flanges of said platemembers and their respective reverted ends engaging against and hookingover said outsole at its opposed sides and forward end thereof, and saidone plate'of said pair having a bridge portion adjacent its said slottedend whereby the major portion of said one plate of said pair may besuperimposed against said underside of said outsole.

3. Cleat means for attachment to the underside of an outsole of a shoe,said means including three elongated rectangular plate members, each ofsaid plate members terminating at one of their respective ends in anintegrally formed flange projecting laterally away from a side thereof,each of said flanges terminating in a reverted end disposed invertically spaced and parallel relation relative to said plate memberassociated therewith, one of said plate members having a screw rigidlysecured thereto adjacent the other end thereof and projecting laterallyfrom its other side, the other ends of the other two of said platemembers being overlapped and provided with a rectangular longitudinallyextending slot, said screw extending through said slots to pivotally andslidably connect said plates to one another for adjustment to a selectedposition relative to each other, the outermost one of said overlappedplate members having an offset bridge formed therein adjacent saidslotted end thereof whereby the major portion of said last namedoverlapped plate member is superimposed against said underside of saidoutsole, means threaded on said screw for holding said plate members intheir said adjusted positions with said flanges and reverted endsengaging against and hooking over the opposed sides and forward end ofsaid outsole.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a cleat attachment for a shoehaving an outsole, said cleat attachment being adapted for extensionacross the under side of said outsole, said cleat attachment including aplurality of elongated rectangular plate members, each of said platemembers terminating at one of their respective ends in a flangeprojecting laterally from a side thereof and in the same direction atright angles with respect thereto, each of said flanges terminatingin'ends reverted over and extending parallel in vertically spacedrelation relative to its associated plate member, one of said platemembers having a pin projecting laterally from the other side thereof,said pin being disposed adjacent the other end of s id one plate member,the other pair of said plate members each having an elongatedrectangular slot formed therein adjacent their respective other ends,said pin extending through said slots to pivotally and slidably connectsaid plate members for adjustment relative to each other to preselectedpositions, means mounted on said pin and engaging one plate of said pairof slotted plate members to releasably secure all of said plate membersin their respective adjusted positions, one of said pair of platemembers having an intermediate ofiset portion, and cleat means for eachof said plate members, each of said cleats comprising a plurality ofradially spaced triangular teeth projecting laterally from said platemembers in the same direction as said pin, said flanges and revertedends of said plate members engaging against and extending over saidoutsole at the upper marginal edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGuilford Aug. 31, Brittan Aug. 11, Grafi Nov. 19, Forbes Nov. 29, RogersMar. 27, Conway July 24,

FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Apr. 1,

